Were you a fan of Ruben Östlund’s previous films?
Charlbi Dean: I’d only seen one of Ruben’s films before auditioning for him – I randomly picked THE SQUARE and saw it at the Angelika in New York. I usually mix popcorn and chocolate as a movie treat, but I didn’t touch it because I didn’t want to miss out on such a unique, intriguing and brilliant film. By the end, I was so buzzing I felt like I could run a marathon.
What was your initial response to the script for TRIANGLE OF SADNESS?
Script? What script? The mysterious Rubens gave us no such thing! He told me a little about the premise, but things changed and grew until the very end of the shoot. We never even knew how it would end. Ruben clearly runs the show, but he is also incredibly adaptable and will change things if he thinks they could be better or more interesting. When I first spoke to him about the film, I had a feeling of sheer terror – but at the same time, it’s the kind of project you can’t wait to embark on.
What are your thoughts on the economy of beauty as the key theory underpinning the film?
Charlbi Dean: I believe beauty in society is definitely a currency with deprecating value and therefore a curse if you assign too much value to it.
Does the film give an insight into the world of fashion?
Charlbi Dean: One hundred percent yes. Ruben’s wife Sina – who put Ruben onto me – is a brilliant fashion photographer and she shared her experiences with him. He is definitely privy to the nitty-gritty of the fashion world.
Did the film make you reassess your opinion of the world of fashion?
Charlbi Dean: I’m not sure to be honest, but I was certainly aware of how it must appear to someone outside the industry. Sometimes you’re so close to a thing that you don’t realize how absurd it is until you look at it from a third-person perspective. It was fun being “that model girl”; I had a free ticket to be outlandish and I love how unapologetic Yaya is.
How did you bond with the rest of the cast, particularly Harris?
Charlbi Dean: The camaraderie that occurs when a bunch of people from all over the world come together for several months on a Greek island during a pandemic – well, you bet we are gonna be tight. I’m so bonded to all of the cast and crew – they are friends I’ll genuinely have forever. Having Harris to work with was an absolute gift: he is kind, patient and ridiculously talented. I know he would cringe reading this, but he is a gem.
Is it possible to compare acting to modelling?
Charlbi Dean: I don’t think so – other than being adaptable to travel and being on the go a lot. And perhaps in the sense of internal dialogue. There is actually a lot of that with modelling and I prefer that kind of acting too; the inner dialogue that we as humans are always trying to hide from the outside world.
How do you think the audience will react to TRIANGLE OF SADNESS?
Charlbi Dean: I have no idea! Hopefully people will leave the theatre wanting to talk about it and discuss it. Those are my favourite films: the ones that get my mind going, piss me off a little, make me laugh and cry.
See also:
A Conversation With Ruben Östlund – Writer / Director “Triangle of Sadness”
A Conversation With Harris Dickinson – Carl in “Triangle of Sadness”
